“A Myriad of Marvellous Memories” How’s that for alliteration? I expect that most of us have enough anecdotes to fill a book.

My most precious memory is of love at first sight. I was fourteen and Ron was sixteen. My saddest of course, was the day he died. However, we talk about him often so he’s still with us. My happiest memories are of our wedding day and the births of our two children and five grandchildren.

An unusual thing happened this morning. An owl must have flown into my bedroom window during the night leaving its impression on the glass. Unfortunately it is now pouring with rain so it is being washed off. The unusual thing is that it has happened before. When we had a flat in Clifton overlooking the Downs, a baby owl left such a clean image of itself on the lounge window that it showed every feather, as in a photograph. I found my finest brush and painted it from the inside of the window. Perhaps it inspired Keith Floyd to buy our flat the first day it was for sale! Do birds have white powder on their feathers?

A salesman on the television today was extolling the virtues of a mattress, and saying that people don’t take long enough to test them before buying. He reminded me of the day Ron and I went to Toulon to buy a new bed. The salesman suggested that we should lay on it to see if the mattress suited us. Forgetting where we were we threw our arms around each other. The salesman started to clap and other customers joined in. So we all finished up laughing. We didn’t know that when you buy a bed in France the price doesn’t include the legs. When it was delivered they brought the legs and we had to pay for them!

Finally a memory that may help you if you intend to apply for a job. We went to Truro to be interviewed for a position of Camp Site Managers with Haven Holidays. When offered any day of the following week, I chose Monday. What happened? I chatted so much about what we would do if offered the posts that the owner said “Excuse me, Esmé, but I have interviews booked for every day this week.” He paused, “However, I will ask my secretary to cancel them. You two have the job!” So if you have a choice, choose a Monday!

Why do I think that sharing memories is important? Most of them help you to remember how lucky you are. Even now I am collecting new ones.

May all your memories be happy!

Esmé

PS: Next month I want to write about the mischievous things you did as a child. The funnier the better. Let me know about them if you are willing to share. Thank you.